Sunday, October 28, 2007

Future Cop-I-Am-Not

So when I tell people I'm from Oakland, I am always quick to defend my hometown, "NO, I don't claim Blood or Crypts...YES, there are nice parts of Oakland...NO I did not carry a gun to school growing up." Tonight though, as I was waiting for my (GASP) Kentucky Fried Chicken in a fit of low blood sugar, I caught what I thought was a fight in front of the cash register out of the corner of my eye. Having spent a few months in South Africa where stories of robberies, carjackings and worse are pressed upon you every time you venture into the city (or any public place for that matter), I reacted quickly in a relatively new response of instant self preservation. As I saw a guy running toward me I pressed myself up against the soda machine and let him pass me by (the store has no tables - just a walk up counter and probably about 100 square feet of standing room). Only as I saw him run out of the store, pursued by another customer, did I realize that I had just made it that much easier for a ROBBER to get past me with the donation box for disadvantaged kids that was previously attached to the counter. I wish I had been more aware of what was going on (instead of so focused on getting the right balance of ice and diet coke in my cup) - if I had just stuck my foot out I'm sure I could have tripped him up. Then again, he was apparently brandishing scissors as a weapon, and there was a sort of desperation in his run as he clutched the box with a pile of ones and the jangle of coins in front of him. True crime Oakland: Watch your quarters and dimes!

10 Comments:

A-town resents you for denying your true heritage. Some of us know your true hometown. :)

As your self-defense instructor and friend, I say GOOD CALL for getting out of the way. No need to get involved where weapons are involved and no one is in immediate physical danger. I trust your instincts!

Lia - Girl - you know I lived in Oakland before Alameda! But yes - I think your training was part of my response - although I do think I need to be more aware of my overall surroundings from here on out.

Whoa. You know though, stealing the donation jar is crack (or some drug)-induced desperation. Desperate petty theft isn't something you want to get involved in. Scissors as a weapon? Geez. It is a good idea to be aware of your surroundings, especially in an urban place. I have to say, I've definitely avoided robberies/theiving situations just by being alert and paying attention to what was going on around me. The one time I was mugged, I saw the guys and thought it was shady, but was too drunk to act on that instinct.

Yeah, I guess Oakland and Alameda got equal loving when you were a kid. My other friend is "from" Berkeley even though she moved to Moraga when she was about 9 and went through high school there. I think when the next place you move is not as cool as the other (sorry A-town and LaMorinda), you have to claim the first. After all, you would still be there if parents hadn't moved you.